Japan America Society of Chicago

About Us

Established in 1930, the Japan America Society of Chicago is a
not-for-profit, nonpartisan, nonpolitical association that “fosters
understanding between our two cultures, to cultivate personal friendship
between our two people.”

The Society promotes dialogue, social interaction, cooperation and
friendship among its members by serving as a forum for the exchange of
ideas and information on economic, political, business and cultural
affairs that inform and shape U.S.- Japan bilateral relations in world
affairs.

The Japan America Society of Chicago now serves as the principal
clearinghouse in the Greater Chicago area and much of the Midwest on
information pertaining to U.S. – Japan bilateral relations. The Society
sponsors programs to serve some 1400 American and Japanese nationals
interested in business and cultural issues in each nation. The Society
serves this dual constituency by annually sponsoring some 50
business-related and cultural programs on a wide variety of subjects.

Business and Public Affairs programs have included presentations by
high level Japanese business and governmental leaders. The Society has
sponsored three Japanese prime ministers in the past decade, along with
reform-minded political leaders, in and out of government, and a
Japanese nobelist in physics who has headed a task force on the reform
of the Japanese educational system. This tradition will be continued. As
in the past, leading American executives from commerce, industry, and
government will continue to enhance Society programming in the form of
forums, symposiums, business luncheons and special events, such as our
annual golf tournament and the Christmas/Bonenkai Gala to support
scholarships and general programming activities. Future programming will
increasingly focus on Japan’s leap into the age of information
technology and investment opportunities in Japan for foreign
corporations.

Cultural activities will also continue to be presented to provide
balanced programming. Popular and traditional Japanese art forms, from
rakugo comedy to contemporary Japanese popular culture have been
presented. This tradition will be expanded to educate Americans on the
richness of Japanese culture. New avenues will be explored and avant
garde films produced and directed by a new wave of Japanese artists will
become a common staple. Japanese language instruction will continue to
feature evening classes with basic to advanced levels of instruction.
Cooperation with the Art Institute of Chicago and its School, local
universities, and the Japan Information Center of the Consulate of Japan
at Chicago will be furthered and ties strengthened. The Society’s
outreach program to public schools in the inner city of Chicago will
continue in the form of scholarship assistance and curriculum
development about Japan.

Established in 1930, the Japan America Society of Chicago is a
not-for-profit, nonpartisan, nonpolitical association that “fosters
understanding between our two cultures, to cultivate personal friendship
between our two people.”